The latest COVID variant spreading through the U.S. with one symptom appearing to be more prevalent than in the past.

Health officials are keeping an eye on the omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, also dubbed Arcturus. The subvariant now accounts for 12% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., up from 7.4% the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Given XBB.1.16′s high transmissibility, it’s believed it will outpace the current dominate strain in circulation – XBB.1.5 – and take the lead by summer.

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The World Health Organization has currently classified XBB.1.16 as a “variant under monitoring,” a less serious designation than “variant of interest” or “variant of concern.”

So far, there’s no indication XBB.1.16 causes more severe illness than previous variants but it is presenting with a higher prevalence of a certain symptom – pink eye.

While conjunctivitis, or pink eye, have been reported among COVID patients in the past, researchers in India said it’s more common in the latest subvariant. Higher fevers have also been reported.

Symptoms reported in children are:

• High fever
• Cough
• “Itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye without pus, but with “sticky eyes”

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

• Tearing or watery eyes
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain or irritation
• Itching
• Discharge

Classic COVID symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea